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Like to convert old dos based app to run in WIN7

Hey guys,

Ill keep my initial post short and see where it leads. Admins, if this post is misfiled, please feel free to move it to the proper sub-forum.

Ill start by saying that I have little current programming experience.
What I have is an old engineering application that currently will not run in windows, the source looks like a batch file to the best of my knowledge, perhaps old VB code. (hard copy not electronic format)
This app does calculations to determine when a product (more information to the person that helps) will fail, based on pressure ratings, bend radius, bend repetitions, tensile strength etc...

Some people have asked me if I wanted a java app or a winforms app. and im not sure which way to go, if theres a simple conversion, or if it truly requires a 100$ / hr programmer.

ANY info greatly appreciated
I can post a snippet of the code for example if needed, but I wont reveal the whole source to anyone other than the person completing the job for me, should someone be willing to help.

Re: Like to convert old dos based app to run in WIN7

To translate code to another programming language, you don't do it line-by-line. You look at the overall behavior of the program and recreate it in the target language however is most appropriate for that language. So without knowing the full behavior you're looking for, it's a little hard to ballpark a cost. Either way, the original source code is irrelevant unless you want to look at it for a specific algorithm.

That being said, what language you choose really depends on a few things. Is this a command line program, or a gui program? Does it require any native access (to hardware or OS-specific resources), or is it generic enough to run on any machine? And most importantly: what language do you already know?

Re: Like to convert old dos based app to run in WIN7

The program runs entirely in a dos environment and uses print commands to display information on the screen.
Making menu selections were done by entering the corresponding number.

I believe the app does not use any os rescources, or rely on hardware, to the best of my knowledge.

And since I have no CURRENT language knowledge to speak of, just old simple stuff, looks like I am going to have to hire someone to do this job. For some reason I thought there might be something, some convertor, that would be able to do the translation. (I knew this was wishful thinking)

Re: Like to convert old dos based app to run in WIN7

Yeah, I doubt you'll be able to find a converter, and you definitely won't be able to find a 100% foolproof converter. How complicated is the program? If it's just a command-line program that does some math for you, I bet it's easier to do from scratch than you think.